How to Read a Cricket Scorecard: A Complete Guide
Cricket scorecards contain all the information you need to understand a match — but they can look confusing at first. This guide explains every column, abbreviation, and number on a cricket scorecard, from batting figures to bowling analyses.
A cricket scorecard is the official record of everything that happened in a match. It tells you who batted, how many runs they scored, how they were dismissed, who took their wicket, and how each bowler performed. Once you understand how to read one, a scorecard brings the whole match to life in a single page.
The Batting Section
Each batting line shows the batsman's name, how they were dismissed (their 'dismissal'), the bowler responsible, the number of runs scored, the number of balls faced, fours hit, sixes hit, and strike rate. A not-out batsman is shown with an asterisk (*) beside their name. 'DNB' (Did Not Bat) appears for batsmen who weren't needed.
Extras and Total
Below the batting figures is the extras line: wides (W), no-balls (NB), byes (B), leg-byes (LB), and penalties. These runs are conceded by the fielding side without being credited to any batsman. The total shows runs scored / wickets lost and overs faced, e.g. '287/6 (50)' means 287 runs, 6 wickets down in 50 overs.
The Bowling Section
Each bowler's line shows overs bowled (O), maidens (M — overs where no runs were scored), runs conceded (R), wickets taken (W), and sometimes extras (wides, no-balls). Economy rate and bowling average may be shown. A bowler's analysis reads like '10-2-34-3' meaning 10 overs, 2 maidens, 34 runs, 3 wickets.
Fall of Wickets
The fall of wickets section shows when each wicket fell — e.g. '1-45' means the first wicket fell at a team total of 45. This lets you see how the innings progressed: a collapse (several wickets falling quickly) or a long partnership (a large gap between wicket numbers) is immediately visible.
Reading a Test Scorecard
Test scorecards show all four possible innings (two per team). Each innings has its own batting and bowling sections. The scorecard also shows how many runs each team needs to win (target), follow-on figures if applicable, and match result. Test scorecards are denser than limited-overs formats but follow the same structure.
Frequently asked questions
What does DNB mean on a cricket scorecard?
DNB stands for 'Did Not Bat' — the batsman was listed in the team but their side was bowled out or won before they had to bat.
What does the asterisk (*) mean on a scorecard?
An asterisk (*) next to a batsman's name indicates they were not out at the end of the innings.
What is a maiden over on a scorecard?
A maiden over (shown as 'M' in bowling figures) is an over in which the bowler conceded zero runs (not counting wides or no-balls).